Raise the Hammer

Comment 24179

By A Smith (anonymous) | Posted May 28, 2008 at 20:25:45

I really don't care about ideology. I am not a Reagan lover, nor do I subscribe to any particular school of thought. I like trying to understand how things work, and in order to do this, there must be no sacred cows.

My overarching point is that things always balance out.

Therefore, when you try to plan for growth, or help poor people, you end up doing the opposite of what you intend.

There are so many examples of this phenomenon that I don't know where to begin. Take the Iraq war for example, part of the reason for this war was to secure cheap oil. The result has been the complete opposite though, high oil prices, and a booming alternative energy sector.

Another example is Canada's decision to live within our fiscal means. Since 1998 the Federal government has run a budget surplus. The cost of doing this has been real, but the benefits have been real as well, an extremely strong currency.

The Americans on the other hand have not been as disciplined as us, and as a result, their currency has fallen appreciably.

That is why Milton Friedman said there was no such thing as a free lunch, all good things must be paid for in some way.

To bring this back to Hamilton, if this city is to prosper, it must be willing to pay the price. The price is changing its stripes from a union loving, pro working class town, to a business friendly, open for business, flexible partner.

If Hamilton can become the best friend of businesses and investors, it will get paid back many times over. Things always balance out.